wo jise ab tak samajhta tha main patthar, samne tha

vo jise ab tak samajhtā thā maiñ patthar, sāmne thā

ik pighaltī mom kā sayyāl paikar sāmne thā

maiñ ne chāhā aane vaale vaqt kā ik aks dekhūñ

be-karāñ hote hue lamhe kā manzar sāmne thā

apnī ik pahchān dī aa.ī ga.ī bātoñ meñ us ne

aaj vo apne ta.alluq se bhī baḌh kar sāmne thā

maiñ ye samjhā thā ki sargarm-e-safar hai koī taa.ir

jab rukī āñdhī to ik girtā huā par sāmne thā

maiñ ne kitnī baar chāhā ḳhud ko lā.ūñ rāste par

maiñ ne phir koshish bhī kī lekin muqaddar sāmne thā

sard jañgal kī siyāhī paaT kar nikle hī the ham

āḳhirī kirnoñ ko tah kartā samundar sāmne thā

TūTnā thā kuchh ajab qahr-e-safar pahle qadam par

muḌ ga.ī thī aañkh hañstā kheltā ghar sāmne thā

pusht par yāroñ kī paspā.ī kā nazzāra thā shāyad

dushmanoñ kā muskurātā ek lashkar sāmne thā

aañkh meñ utrā huā thā shaam kā pahlā sitārā

raat ḳhālī sar pe thī aur sard bistar sāmne thā

wo jise ab tak samajhta tha main patthar, samne tha

ek pighalti mom ka sayyal paikar samne tha

main ne chaha aane wale waqt ka ek aks dekhun

be-karan hote hue lamhe ka manzar samne tha

apni ek pahchan di aai gai baaton mein us ne

aaj wo apne talluq se bhi baDh kar samne tha

main ye samjha tha ki sargarm-e-safar hai koi tair

jab ruki aandhi to ek girta hua par samne tha

main ne kitni bar chaha KHud ko laun raste par

main ne phir koshish bhi ki lekin muqaddar samne tha

sard jangal ki siyahi paT kar nikle hi the hum

aaKHiri kirnon ko tah karta samundar samne tha

TuTna tha kuchh ajab qahr-e-safar pahle qadam par

muD gai thi aankh hansta khelta ghar samne tha

pusht par yaron ki paspai ka nazzara tha shayad

dushmanon ka muskuraata ek lashkar samne tha

aankh mein utra hua tha sham ka pahla sitara

raat KHali sar pe thi aur sard bistar samne tha